As gunfire erupted, Phoebe leaped amid the bullets and swiftly darted down. Everyone rushed to the roadside and fired into the jungle below the slope.


    Overwhelmed with fear, M sank to the ground, sping Jasper tightly as he cried in shock. Tears streamed down M''s face.


    Could Phoebe survive such an onught? M couldn''t bring herself to look down the slope, her heart wrenched at the thought of Phoebe''s safety. "Take her away," Jacobmanded.


    M was led into another vehicle by the armed men. Slowly, she wiped away her tears, soothing Jasper in her embrace. They were then taken to a cottage, where food, water, form, and diapers were provided.


    The next morning, M was relocated. Blindfolded, she boarded a car and traveled for about an hour. Despite being unable to see, M could sense their proximity to the frontiers, though they were now farther from the military base.


    She was confined within a white vintage vi, with a garden adorned with tulips and guarded by armed sentries.


    With Jasper by her side, M did not dare to resist and just resigned to await Nathan''s rescue. She held onto the hope that Nathan woulde for them.


    She also believed that Phoebe couldn''t be dead. It simply couldn''t happen. Phoebe had just begun a new chapter in life with her marriage. She couldn''t die. What would Cole do if she did?


    M often found herself shedding tears in secret and lost in anxious thoughts.


    As more than a week passed in captivity, M saw no sign of Nathaning to her rescue or the appearance of Oliver.


    With the election drawing closer, M suspected that Oliver, in his quest for victory, was using her and Jasper as leverage against Nathan.


    Nathan must have realized her disappearance by now. The thought of his worry weighed heavily on M, keeping her awake at night and mncholic during the day. If not for Jasper''s presence, she couldn''t fathom how to endure these days.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    One day, M was sitting alone, quietly eating her lunch. The sound of the door opening echoed from outside.


    Following that, the respectful voice of the gatekeeper chimed in, "Good afternoon, Mr. Xander."


    M set down her utensils, rising nervously from her seat, her gaze fixed tightly on the doorway. Yale, dressed sharply, strode in with a smile ying on his lips.


    M had anticipated his arrival, so it wasn''t a surge of surprise that filled her, but rather a bubbling cauldron of anger and resentment. She remained silent, her eyes zing with fury as she watched him.


    "Chubs, Nathan''s gone mad," Yale chuckled, but hisughter quickly turned into a snarl, his teeth clenched in frustration. "He''s truly crazy."


    "What do you mean?" M asked anxiously, gathering the sleeping Jasper into her arms and holding him protectively as she stared at Yale.


    Yale settled onto the couch, ying with his tie in irritation. Through gritted teeth, he spat out, "He''s insane!"


    M''s unease deepened, her heart torn between anger and fear. Was the insanity referred to Nathan''s state of mind or his actions?


    Meeting M''s unwaveringly furious gaze, Yale''s curiosity sparked. "Why aren''t you asking me why I''ve taken you captive?"


    M scoffed, "Your identity was exposed long ago, wasn''t it? There''s no need to ask."


    Oliver sneered, reclining on the


    couch and casting his gaze upward.


    In a low murmur, he said, "Chubs,


    come with me. I''ll treat you nicely and take care of Nathan''s son as my own."


    He wanted her to go with him? In his dreams! She would rather die here than go with Oliver.


    Approaching him, M demanded angrily, "What''s wrong with Nate?"


    Oliver replied nonchntly, "He lost his mind."


    M felt a constriction in her chest. It sounded all too familiar to Nathan''s demeanor.


    Muttering to himself, Oliver


    continued, "I should have Wa


    after the election, where I had, ascended to power, and then kept you by my side."